Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-02
SPEECH OF HON. John SHERMAN.
delivered at Springfield, Illinois, Before
the Republican Members Of the Lesis.
lature.
SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,. lane

and their course during the bloody struggle
from 1861 to 1865. Following this came
review of the course of both parties since the
war. In regard to the election of 1884, he
said
"There is not an intelligent man in this
broad land Of either party, who does not
know that MIR. Cleveland is now President of
the United States by virtue of crimes against
the elective franchise, including murder,
arson, ballot box stuffing, forgery and per-
jury. but for which james G. Blaine would
now be in his place. There has not been a
moment since the adoption of the fifteenth
amendment, when, if there could have been
fair election for President, majority OF
the constitutional voters of at least five of the
Southern States would not have voted for
the Republican nominee"
The closing part of Mr.. Sherman's speech
is as follows:
And 80, fellow citizens. you may run the
gamut OF all the political questions great and
small that divide the two parties, and You
Will md the line OF demarkation 10 union and
confederate; republican and democratic |
am not opposed TO confederate soldiers but to
confederate ideas. Many confederate sol
ders were true to the Union until drawn by
State pride to fight for the confederscy /
have no dislike for democrats, many of whom
cherish as my dearest friends, but do dis
like the tendency of that party to confederate
ideas. They taunt US with waving the bloody
shirt; we believe they wave the confederate
flag. Jefferson Davis says: they ''are now
barring their breasts for the rights they fought
for" The resolutions of the democrats or
Kentucky are, in effect, extracts from the
confederate constitution and confederates are
selected as their candidates. The democrat
ic n IL ha laf Of, ,ba f.Io
ate army.
do not agree with Mr.. Curtis of New
York when he says in recent speech THAT
the great parties are now mainly the shadows
of great names and represent no definite and
di'tinct policy upon any of the existing ques-
tions," nor when he says the republican party
was organized wholly to resist the curse OF
slavery" But do agree with him when he
says Il am prouder OF nothing than of my
connection with that party which, it seems to
me. has done more for human liberty and foc
every popular interest than any other party
in the history of the English speaking race"
Our party has not only grappled with the
curse of slavery, but it has grappled with
every question of public policy within the
past twenty-five years, and always in the
spirit of liberty. union and strength. 1t may
not in all respects have met the wishes Of
Mr.. Curtis, but his eulogy places it tar be-
yond that of any other party.
Let no man be misled into the conclusion
that all the vital issues dividing the two par
ties have been settled. There are many
things that lie near to the heart of the Ameri
can people. They demand free ballot, a
fair count and correct returns.
They wish still further to develop and
diversity American industry. They wish to
produce everything in this country for which
the God of Nature has given US the raw ma
terials, or which is suited to our soil and
climate. Every measure should be support
ed that will tend TO protect and foster hom.
industries. We should not be content until
every channel of communication capable of
improvement, and which will yield benefits
equal to its cost, shall be improved. We
should connect the father of waters with our
great system of lakes by waterways sufficient
not only to protect our commerce in trans
porting supplies in peace, but to transfer
from the heart of the country vessels and
means of defence in time of war. The edu-
cation of the rising generation, without re-
spect to race, color or previous condition,
| ought to be a constant object of desire, not
only by local and State governments, but by
the national government. The equal enjoy.
ment of every civil and political right given
by the constitution should be secured by
every legal and constitutional means. The
! shadows and prejudices of the past should be
| lifted by the lights of modern civilization, o.,
and the American people should feel that
they are not citizens of mere States or local
communities. but of great and powerful
nation. The workingman in every condition
and employment of life should be encourag-
ed, protected and assisted by every reasona
BILE measure to advance his condition and
to open up to him, by honest labor and en-
terprlse, all the avenues of wealth and hon.
or. Every measure should be adopted that
will tend to restore to our commerce the car
~ ing trade of the world to the utmost ends
of the earth. A foreign policy should be
adopted which, while firmly maintaining the
rights of an American citizen wherever his
wandering footsteps will lead him, yet will
seek the advantages Of a state of peace to be
maintained by an honorable, cordial and
friendly intercourse.
If have correctly stated the aims and ten
denotes of the two parties, the republican
party is the only one fitted to carry out such
policy. Our adversaries may brood over
the dead past and mourn the decay of the
| confederate ideas; but republicans hail the
unbounded satisfaction every advance of our
country in strength and power at home and
abroad, conscious that this is consistent with
| the full powers of State, county and local
| sovereignty, reaching to every family and
| homestead in the land. We brood over no
| lost cause, but look forward hopefully to
reap for future generations the great benefits
conferred by the sacrifices and services of
our patriotic soldiers in the preservation of
the Union and the abolition of slavery.
Ii is said that the republican party bad
been long in power. Our democratic friends
wanted to examine the books. They wanted
to turn the rascals out. What rascals have
,hev found in2 What wrong or peculation
have they found in the books? l can with
confidence and pride say to you that no ad-
ministra,ion of this or any government has
been more free from corruption, fraud or
REGULATION than the republican adminls,ra-
tious from Lincoln to Arthur, both Included
The republican party has justified itself in
war and in peace. 1t is the only party
in this country that can give you national.
patriotic, liberty loving, fraud hating and
business administration. 1t enters into the
lists this year and next year proud OF ITS
record, with no apologies to make, no crimes
to repent of, no people deprived by it of
their rights. 1t has stood the test of defeat
and retirement with unquestioning acquies-
ceuce, though it was brought about By crime.
II has fairly treated the democratic Presi.
dent, who has gained public approval only as
he has resisted his party. 1t will again ap-
peal to the suffrages of the people, asking
only an honest vote, and . fair count. and
referring to its record in the past - the best
that will ainf in